Whatsjust presents Critical Conversations

Dr. Abigail Henson

Dr. Abbie Henson dives into critical conversations with those who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system- whether through lived experience, research, or both. These conversations get into the weeds on complex justice-related issues and encourage listeners to think critically, challenge existing narratives, and cultivate change through dialogue.  Guided by the belief that systemic change stems from individual change and individual change stems from exposure to new ideas and a heightened awareness of self and others, the purpose of this podcast is to ultimately inspire transformation in both the listeners and, ultimately, the criminal legal system.

  1. 11/09/2025

    Pregnancy on Trial: The Criminalization of Reproduction with Lourdes A. Rivera

    Send a text In this episode, I’m joined by Lourdes A. Rivera, President of Pregnancy Justice and a leading voice in the fight to ensure that no one loses their rights because of pregnancy. Lourdes has spent over three decades advancing reproductive freedom, gender justice, and human rights through her work in law, philanthropy, and advocacy. Together, we unpack what it means to live in a country where pregnancy itself can lead to punishment, and what that reveals about our broader criminal and political systems. We dive into: Why and how pregnancy is being criminalized across the U.S.What it really means to be “pro-choice” in today’s legal and cultural landscapeThe impact of criminalizing substance use during pregnancyThe realities of being pregnant behind barsWhat we can all do to protect reproductive freedom and dignityThis conversation will challenge the way you think about rights, justice, and the politics of care, reminding you of what’s at stake when we criminalize bodies instead of supporting them. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Lourdes A. Rivera and Pregnancy Justice 02:54 Personal Journey into Reproductive Justice 04:13 Defining Fetal Personhood 07:01 The Conflict of Rights in Pregnancy 10:53 Debunking the Crack Baby Myth 14:35 Public Health vs. Criminalization 18:31 Pregnancy in Jails and Prisons 21:55 The Criminalization of Pregnancy Loss 23:05 The Broader Implications of Reproductive Rights 23:48 Reproductive Justice vs. Pro-Choice 26:31 Impact of Ideology on Healthcare Access 28:33 Consequences of Criminalization on Families 30:18 Social Determinants of Health and Reproductive Justice 31:43 Criminalization of Pregnancy and Healthcare Needs 36:12 Legal Consequences of Pregnancy Criminalization 38:49 Community Action and Advocacy for Change 42:58 Challenging Pro-Life Narratives 44:56 Prioritizing Care Over Criminalization 48:59 Lourdes Outro.mp3 Credits: Created and hosted by Abbie Henson Edited by Isabelle Kerby-Mcgowan Website by Sarah Lords Support Critical Conversations I would love to hear your feedback, takeaways, and questions. Please text at the link above or email whatsjustpod@gmail.com . Follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to stay updated on upcoming live Critical Conversations. And as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :) Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes! Visit our website at abigailrhenson.com/podcast Support the show

    52 min

  2. 08/24/2025

    Are We All Falling for 'Copaganda'? with Alec Karakatsanis

    Send a text In this episode, I’m joined by Alec Karakatsanis, a trailblazing civil rights lawyer, Founder and Executive Director of Civil Rights Corps, and author of Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News. Together, we pull back the curtain on how everyday headlines shape what we believe about crime, safety, and justice, and how those beliefs serve the powerful and not necessarily the public. We dive into: How to spot propaganda hiding in plain sightReal, non-punitive approaches to addressing harm that actually workThe ways police practices distort crime data to fit certain narrativesWhy mainstream media leans on fear to keep the criminal legal system intactThis conversation will change the way you read the news — and maybe even the way you see the world. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Copaganda and Its Impact 03:05 Defining Copaganda: Features and Implications 07:01 Challenging Perspectives on Propaganda 10:39 The Construction of Crime and Its Reporting 17:27 Understanding Harm: The Overlooked Crimes 22:17 Manufacturing Fear Through Media 28:22 The Punishment Bureaucracy: A Flawed Solution 35:02 Rethinking Safety and Community Solutions 40:10 Navigating Media Consumption Critically Links: What you need to start a court watch program Democracy Now Credits: Created and hosted by Abbie Henson Edited by Isabelle Kerby-Mcgowan Website by Sarah Lords Support Critical Conversations I would love to hear your feedback, takeaways, comments, tips, and questions. Please feel free to text at the link above or email whatsjustpod@gmail.com.  Follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn Subscribe to the weekly newsletter to receive details on where and when the next live Critical Conversation will take place.  And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :) Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes! Visit our website at https://www.abigailrhenson.com/podcast Support the show

    48 min

  3. 05/06/2025

    How to Make Heterosexuality Less "Tragic" with Dr. Jane Ward

    Send a text This episode features Dr. Jane Ward, professor and chair of Feminist Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and author of the recent book, The Tragedy of Heterosexuality. In this conversation, we explore the complexities of heterosexuality, its historical context, and the implications of gender dynamics in relationships. We discuss  The evolution of marriage Exploring sexualityThe commodification of relationship adviceHow to be a feministI would love to hear your feedback, take-aways, or comments. So pease feel free to text at the link above or email whatsjustpod@gmail.com And please follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get details on where and when the next live Critical Conversation is happening!  And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :) Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Critical Conversations 01:42 Understanding the Tragedy of Heterosexuality 06:06 Historical Context of Heterosexuality 10:00 Sexuality as a Choice 14:54 Queering Relationships and Gender Dynamics 19:53 The Misogyny Contradiction 21:50 The Heterosexual Repair Industry 26:41 Exploring Feminist Frameworks in Relationships 29:02 The Role of Men in Feminism 32:31 Navigating Sexuality and Gender Identity 36:40 The Importance of Values in Relationships 41:50 Feminism and the Dating Scene 46:36 Redefining Relationships Beyond Heteronormativity 51:51 Hope and Transformation in Heterosexual Relationships Support the show

    54 min

  4. 04/22/2025

    How Healing Changes our Future, Present, and Past with Prentis Hemphill

    Send a text This episode features a live-recorded critical conversation between Abbie and Prentice Hemphill, a therapist, somatic educator, political organizer, founder of the Embodiment Institute, and writer of the recent book, What It Takes To Heal. In this conversation, we explore the intricate relationship between healing, justice, and the body, and discuss: Conflict as a catalyst for growthThe fallacy of the mind-body splitHealing as relational rather than individual Visioning as a process to create our own paths and futuresThe importance of surrender in healingI would love to hear your feedback, take-aways, or comments. So pease feel free to text at the link above or email whatsjustpod@gmail.com And please follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get details on where and when the next live Critical Conversation is happening!  And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :) Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes! Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Healing and Justice 05:37 The Mind-Body Connection 12:49 Embodiment and Its Practices 19:39 Intergenerational Healing and Relationships 27:47 The Process of Healing 35:00 Visioning and Personal Agency 40:28 The Role of Conflict in Growth 42:17 Surrender and Vulnerability 44:24 Trust and Risk in Relationships 46:15 Presence and Parenting 48:15 Authenticity vs. Attunement 51:44 The Power of Ease and Intention 54:06 Visioning and Actionable Practices 56:31 Riding the Edge of Change 58:03 Outrage and Its Impact 01:00:09 Decisiveness and Self-Trust 01:01:36 Surrender and Liberation 01:03:18 Desiring vs. Longing 01:04:59 Somatics and Decarceration 01:07:41 Hope in Conflict Resolution 01:11:12 The Intersection of Vision and Soul 01:12:47 Stress, Resilience, and Community Support the show

    1h 16m

  5. 06/16/2024

    Step Ten: Being Open to Change with Dr. Steven Windisch

    Send a text This episode is step ten in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Steven Windisch, the Director of the Crime and Security Data Analytics Lab in the Terrorism Research Center at the University of Arkansas. Dr. Windisch's research breaks away from approaches limited to specific phases of the extremist’s life course, such as their period of incarceration. Instead, his research emphasizes the accumulation of risk factors (e.g., physical abuse) and life events (e.g., divorce) that occur during childhood, adolescence, or adulthood and how these experiences increase one’s susceptibility to accepting extremist beliefs.   In this episode, we: discuss risk factors to lead to extremismexamine the role of compassion and exposure in creating changethe importance of support systems in drawing people out of extremismtangible tools to aid and be open to change If you have any questions or comments you would like addressed in the  Q&A with Dr. Windisch, please email whatsjustpod@gmail.com And please follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get details on where and when the Live Q&A is happening!  And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :) Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes! Timestamps: 04:26 Defining Change in Extremist Beliefs 12:21 Risk Factors and Pathways to Extremism 19:59 The Role of Compassion and Empathy 26:01 Challenges in Addressing White Supremacy 33:30 Navigating the Stigma of White Supremacy Upon Deradicalization 35:13 The Power of Kindness in Initiating Change 36:53 Personal Experiences with Change 38:36 Parenthood and Identity Transformation 40:17 The Process of Change and Openness 42:43 Challenges in Critical Conversations 46:10 Finding Common Ground in Difficult Dialogues 50:38 Supporting Change and Overcoming Stigma 59:16 Three Captivating Things Support the show

    1h 6m

  6. 06/09/2024

    Step Nine: Developing Empathy with Dr. Barret Michalec

    Send a text This episode is step nine in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Barret Michalec, director of the Center for Advancing Interprofessional Practice, Education and Research (CAIPER), and an associate professor in the Edson College of Nursing and Health Innovation. Michalec’s research examines humility, empathy, and belonging, particularly within the healthcare field.   In this episode, we: discuss the difference between empathy and sympathyexplore how to build emotional resiliencedefine the concept of emotional contagionprovide practical exercises for building empathy If you have any questions or comments you would like addressed in the  Q&A with Dr. Michaelec, please email whatsjustpod@gmail.com And please follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get details on where and when the Live Q&A is happening!  And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :) Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes! Timestamps: 02:57 Understanding Empathy vs. Sympathy 03:26 Empathy in Critical Conversations 04:35 Empathy in Leadership 05:22 Judicial Empathy and Bias 07:58 Emotional Contagion in Clinical Settings 09:35 Building Emotional Resilience 13:47 Empathy Exercises and Practices 19:54 Innate Empathy and Adversity 25:02 Empathy, Vulnerability, and Humility 35:54 Expanding Empathy Beyond In-Groups 39:52 Understanding Limits and Vulnerability 42:39 The Science Behind Empathy 44:46 Empathy in Healthcare 48:34 Measuring Empathy 57:52 Practical Exercises for Building Empathy 01:04:34 Empathy and Decision Making 01:08:16 Three Captivating Things Support the show

    1h 13m

  7. 06/02/2024

    Step Eight: Releasing Defenses with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks

    Send a text This episode is step eight in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, a Professor of Business Administration and Hellman Faculty Fellow at the Harvard Business School who was recently named a Best 40-Under-40 Business School Professor by Poets & Quants. Her book TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves will be published by Crown (Penguin Random House) in January 2025. Her research on the science of conversation has been published in prestigious academic journals, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, and Psychological Science, as well as in popular media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, The New York Times, Scientific American, and Harvard Business Review.   In this episode, we discuss: how to build a secure identitythe power of hedging and receptive languagemechanisms for holding accountability in conflictways to move away from small talk tangible tools to release defenses in conversation If you have any questions or comments you would like addressed in the  Q&A with Dr. Brooks, please email whatsjustpod@gmail.com And please follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get details on where and when the Live Q&A is happening!  And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :) Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes! Timestamps: 02:11 The Influence of Being a Twin 04:40 Exploring Self-Talk and Its Impact 06:32 Defining Conversation and Defensiveness 08:24 The Complexity of Conversations 10:29 The Dance of Communication 16:01 Navigating Sensitive Topics 19:39 Layers of Conversation Conflict 27:15 Building a Secure Identity 29:46 The Power of Receptive Language 32:21 Personal Reflections on Defensiveness 35:07 Accountability in Conversations 38:45 Navigating Difficult Conversations 44:41 The Art of Deep Conversations 51:28 Practical Tools for Better Conversations 54:48 Three Captivating Things Support the show

    56 min

  8. 05/26/2024

    Step Seven: Encouraging Vulnerability with Dr. Mariel Buqué

    Send a text This episode is step seven in the 10-Step Toolkit to Having Critical Conversations featuring Dr. Mariel Buqué, an Afro-Latina psychologist and author of the best-selling book, Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. She earned her doctoral degree in psychology at Columbia University, where she trained as a holistic mental health fellow within Columbia University's Irving Medical Center. Within this role, she focused on helping Black and Latine community members overcome trauma and build better health; a mission she continues to carry into her consultation with health organizations and Fortune 500 companies.   In this episode, we discuss: why breaking the cycle of trauma is imperative for connectionthe impact of inflammation on physical health and mental wellbeingthe impact of prolonged crisis on our DNAthe relationship between ancestral knowing and epigeneticstools to heal intergenerational traumaDon't forget to check out the bonus episodes that feature an audience Q&A and the Soundbath led by Dr. Buqué. And please follow Whatsjust on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn and subscribe to the weekly newsletter to get details on where and when the Live Q&A is happening!  And, as always, please review, subscribe, and share with everyone you know :) Become a supporter of the show with a monthly subscription (amount of your choice) and get a shoutout in upcoming episodes! Timestamps: 02:32 Understanding Intergenerational Trauma: Definitions and Dynamics 04:46 The Role of Vulnerability in Healing and Connection 10:57 Challenging Traditional Therapy: Beyond Cognitive Behavioral Therapy 14:21 The Inflamed Mind: Rethinking Depression and Healing 16:44 Holistic Approaches to Mental Health: A New Paradigm 25:15 The Power of Ancestral Wisdom and Resilience 34:06 Confronting the Mental Health Crisis with New Perspectives 35:19 The Impact of Prolonged Crisis on Our DNA 35:35 Breaking the Cycle: Why It's Essential for Critical Conversations 35:45 Understanding Our Nervous System's Response to Stress 37:23 Reprogramming Our Bodies for Better Conversations 41:14 Introducing DRIVE: A Tool for Navigating Difficult Conversations 46:22 Exploring the Questions of What Happened to You 47:39 The Importance of Contextualizing Intergenerational Trauma 51:48 Ancestral Knowing and Western Medicine: Bridging the Gap 55:33 Practical Steps for Addressing Intergenerational Trauma 01:02:33 Breaking the Cycle Beyond Procreation 01:05:32 Three Captivating Things Support the show

    1h 9m
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5
out of 5
86 Ratings

About

Dr. Abbie Henson dives into critical conversations with those who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system- whether through lived experience, research, or both. These conversations get into the weeds on complex justice-related issues and encourage listeners to think critically, challenge existing narratives, and cultivate change through dialogue.  Guided by the belief that systemic change stems from individual change and individual change stems from exposure to new ideas and a heightened awareness of self and others, the purpose of this podcast is to ultimately inspire transformation in both the listeners and, ultimately, the criminal legal system.

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